Car-seal.



J. A. STODGELL.

CAR SEAL. APPLICATION FILED APR- 2, I917- 1,235, 1 67, Patented July 31; 1917.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ALEXANDER STODGELL, OF WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA.

CAR-SEAL.

Application filed April 2, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES ALEXANDER SroDonLL, of the city of Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Seals, of which the following is the specification.

The invention relates to improvements in car seals and the primary object of the invention is to provide a seal which can be applied on a car to lock the car door without the use of a seal press or other tool and also a seal which, when applied, cannot be removed or tampered with withoutbreaking or destroying the seal.

A still further object is to provide a seal of simple, durable and inexpensive construction and formed entirely from a single piece of metal which can be stamped and fashioned quickly and cheaply.

With the above objects in view the invention consists in certain details, in the construction and arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are obtained as hereinafter more fully set forth and pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 represents a plan view of the seal opened out and prior to forming tl g box 7 1 $3155,

Fig. 2 represents an enlarged detail longitudinal sectional view through the box with the locking tongue in locked position within the box.

Fig. 3 represents an enlarged detailed vertical sectional view through the box, the section being taken in the plane denoted by the line XX Fig. 2 and looking in the direc tion indicated by the applied arrow, the locking tongue being omitted.

Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal sectional view centrally through the locking tongue.

In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

1 represents a metallic strap of suitable length having one end formed into a specially designed locking tongue 2 and the other end formed into a specially designed box 3, it being here understood that the complete seal embodying the strap, looking tongue, box and associated parts, are all formed from a single piece of metal.

In order that the construction of the box can be b tt r understood I have Sho n i n Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 191 '7 Serial No. 159,281.

Fig. 1 as it appears prior to folding and in such figure it will be observed that it comprises really three parts, a body member 4, a central member 5 and an extending end member 6, which parts actually form, in the finished seal, the box body, a top or closure for the box and an internal locking member.

The extending end member 6 is of the same width as the strap 1, while the members 4 and 5 are wider than the strap so that the member 4 can be pressed into a box shape with continuous sides and ends and the member 5 can have the side wings 5 and 5 thereof turned at right angles to the body portion of the member to form 1l)apping side closure pieces in the closed The extending end member 6 is shaped in a particular manner as now described. A cross slot 7 is formed in the inner end of said member and two parallel cross slits 8 and 9 are made in the central portion of it and form a central cross strap 10 which, in the manufacture of the seal, is pressed and expanded so that it is elevated in respect to the remaining adjacent parts, this construction being best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The outer end of the extension 6 and the outer edge of the cross strap are both indented centrally but' in opposite directions to provide an upstanding catch 11 at the extremity of the member 6 and a downwardly extending catch 12 on. the side of the strap.

The member 4 is fitted with a cross slot 13 which, when the box is shaped, appears in the end wall of the box which is continuous with the strap 1. Actually the slots 7 and 13 register when the box is finished and they are of a size such that they will snugly receive the locking tongue 2 when the same is inserted.

The locking tongue 2 is narrower than the body of the s'trap whereby two shoulders 2' and 2 are formed at the base of the tongue.

The body of the tongue is fitted with tWo her 5 over the open top of the pressed member at and the extension 6 has taken an inclined position within the formed box and becomes a spring locking member within the box.

Further, it will be observed that the top of the box, that is to say, the part 5 thereof, becomes locked closed as soon as the tongue is inserted through the registering slots 7 and 13 and that the side wings'5 and 5 of the member 5 lie within and lap the box sides so that it is impossible to insert a tam pering tool in this location.

The actual locking of the seal is accom plished by inserting the forward end of the tongue within the registering slots and push ing it inwardly until the shoulders 2' and 2 butt against the end of the box. As the tongue goes in it enters beneath the strap and springs past the two catches which, in the final position of the tongue. are received within the two openings l i and 15.

I wish it here to be noticed that in the limiting inner position of the locking tongue the inner extremity thereof is riding on the inner face of the member 5, that is, on the inner side of the box top. Accordingly a spring action is efiected which holds the advancing end of the tongue down and effects the positive locking of the catch 11 in the opening 1%.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A car seal formed from a single piece of metal and comprising a strap like body, a box at one end of the strap and provided with an inlet opening, an internal locking member within the box and provided with an elevated cross strap, said locking member presenting upper and lower angular catches, the angular portions of which are oppositely directed, a tongue at the other end of the strap and adapted to enter the box through the inlet opening and provided with spaced openings adapted to receive the catches within the box.

2. A car seal formed from a single piece of metal and comprising a strap like body, a box located at one end of the strap and provided with an inlet opening, an inclined locking member passing lengthwise of the box and formed with an elevated cross strap, the said latter strap and locking member being both provided one with a downturned and the other with an upturned catch and a locking tongue located at the other end of the strap like body and adapted to enter the box through the inlet opening and pass between the elevated cross strap and the body of the locking member and fitted with spaced openings adapted to receive the catches.

3. In a car seal, the combination with a strap like body, of a locking box formed integral with the strap body and comprising a body member pressed to form an open topped box having an entrance opening in the end thereof, a central member continuone with the body member and adapted to close over the top of the formed box and provided with side wings passing to the side of the box and an extending member continuous with the central member and adapt ed to be folded within the closed box and to take an inclined position therein and supplied with an opening registering with the opening in the box body and with an elevated cross strap and with upturned and downturned catches.

Signed at lVinnipeg, this 2nd day of March 1917.

JAMES ALEXANDER STODGELL. In the presence of I G. S. RoxBURGH, ROLAND FOSTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

